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"CO 

fiaa&riiii 

May 
2004 

Volume  65, 

Issue  5 

- 


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&*=/* 


Vantage  Point 

Thank  You, 


Partnerships  are  mutually  beneficial  relationships 
between  groups  and  individuals  with  common 
interests  and  concerns. 

In  the  conservation  world  partnerships  are  the  norm, 
and  in  M  issouri  they  have  been  an  essential  way  of 
business  for  decades.  For  example,  the  Conservation 
Department  partnered  with  landowners  in  the  restoration 
of  white-tailed  deer,  wild  turkeys  and  other  important 
wildlife  species.  Wecontinue  to  partner  with  landowners 
as  a  way  to  improve  habitats  and  wildlife  populations. 

Partners  can  achieve  more  than  could  ever  be 
accomplished  if  each  worked  alone.  For  example,  the 
pooled  resources  of  the  Department  of  Conservation, 
federal  agencies,  Ducks  Unlimited,  National  Wild  Turkey 
Federation,  M  issouri  Prairie  Foundation,  The  Nature 
Conservancy,  Quail  Unlimited,  Ruffed  Grouse  Society, 
M  issouri  Waterfowl  Association,  private  citizens, 
corporations,  foundations,  and  many  others  have 
protected  and  restored  thousands  of  acres  of  habitat, 
improved  the  status  of  Missouri's  wildlife  and  yielded 
great  places  for  Missourians  to  watch  birds,  hike,  hunt, 
fish  and  view  nature. 

Partnerships  create  understanding.  Former  Wildlife 
Research  Superintendent  Bill  Crawford  often  said,  "folks 
tend  to  be  down  on  the  things  they're  not  upon." 

Partnerships  require  communication.  They  ensure  we're 
"up  on"  the  perspectives  of  our  partners.  A  good  example 
of  fruitful  partnering  istheunique  relationship  of  the 
Audubon  Society  of  M  issouri  and  Ruffed  Grouse  Society 
in  promoting  habitats  for  forest  birds.  Another  example  is 
The  Grassland  Coalition,  which  brings  together  Quail 
Unlimited,  The  Nature  Conservancy,  the  Missouri  Prairie 
Foundation  and  others  to  protect  and  restore  the  native 
grasslands  that  once  covered  much  of  our  state. 

Partnerships  create  a  strength  of  unity.  A  partnership 
of  conservation  interests  established  the  modern 
Department  of  Conservation  in  1936.  Yet  another,  in 
1976,  added  the  one-eighth  of  one  percent  conservation 
sales  tax  to  fund  conservation  work. 

Partnerships  exist  in  the  internal  architecture  of  strong 
organizations.  They  are  clearly  an  expectation  of  M  issouri 
Conservation  Commission  and  our  agency's  leadership. 
We  call  them  teams  in  the  Department  of  Conservation, 
and  they  exist  at  all  levels.  These  internal  partnerships 
enhance  effectiveness  and  promote  understanding. 

Partnerships  are  a  vital  part  of  conservation  in 
M  issouri.  Not  all  states  or  federal  agencies  have  them. 


Though  we  rely  on  them  so  often,  we  never  fail  to  recog- 
nizethe  contributions  that  partnerships  maketo  the 
conservation  effort.  The  Conservation  Department 
relies  on  and  values  the  the  work  and  support  of  other 
agencies,  outdoor  clubs  and  organizations,  user  groups, 
private  landowners  and  the  people  of  M  issouri. 
Thank  you  partners! 


Dave  Erickson,  Wildlife  Division  Administrator 


03 

May  200 


nl 


Contact  Us:  Web  page:  http://www.missouriconservation.org 

Subscriptions:  free  to  adult  Missouri  residents; 

out  of  state  $7  per  year;  out  of  country  $10  per  year. 

Send  correspondence  to  Circulation,  P.O.  Box  180,  Jefferson  City,  MO  65102-0180. 

Phone:  573/522-4115,  ext.  3856  or  3249 

E-mail  General  Questions:  ken.drenon(a)mdc.mo.qov 

E-mail  Magazine  Subscriptions:  subscriptions(a)mdc.mo.qov 


lay  2004 
Volume  65,  Issue  5 

4  STASH  THAT  TRASH! 

—  By  Chris  Riggert 

Supplying  mesh  trash  bags  to  canoeists 
is  helping  to  keep  M  issouri's  streams  clean. 

10  DADDY,  I  GOT  ONE! 

—  By  Marvin  Boyer 

Parents  will  remember  these  words  forever. 

14  SOME  LIKE  IT  WET 

—  By  Rod  Doolen 

Called  ephemeral  pools,  these  chronically  wet 
areas  provide  valuable  breeding  habitat  for 
salamanders. 

17  IT'S  A  CAPITAL  IDEA 

—  By  Kathy  Cavender 

The  Runge  Conservation  Nature  Genter  draws 
thousands  of  visitors  to  J  efferson  City. 

22  OWNING  A  GOOD  GUN  DOG 

—  By  Mark  Goodwin 

Take  a  dog  with  good  genes,  add  patient  but 
firm  training,  and  you'll  create  the  perfect 
hunting  companion. 

DEPARTMENTS 

Reflections  2 
News  &  Almanac  30 


OUTSIDE  IN 

The  Conservationist  for  kids 


0 


OVER 

Spotted  salamander 
Photograph  byjim  Rathert 


@    Printed  on  recycled  paper  with  soy  ink. 


NoRfcE 

TrasW! 

-  nomoretrash.org  -J 


May  2004   1 


MARCH  FLIES 

I  enjoyed  your  picture  of  the  mayfly  in 
the  March  issue.  In  1955,1  was  inducted 
into  the  military  at  Camp  Perry,  Ohio, 
during  the  spring.  In  late  May  and  early 
June,  the  mayflies  were  so  thick  that 
businesses  put  up  black  curtains  to  dis- 
courage them. The  highways  would 
become  slick  as  ice,  and  the  flies  would 
clog  automobile  air  cleaners.They  didn't 
really  hurt  anything,  but  they  were  a 
nuisance. 

Up  there,  the  mayflies  were  called 
Canadian  Soldiers. The  wings  on  them 
were  green,  as  opposed  to  the  dark 
wings  of  the  specimen  in  your  picture. 
Bill  Haase,  Salem 

STRANGER  IDENTIFIED 

I  want  to  tell  you  how  glad  I  was  to  see 
the  March  front  cover.  I  have  been  try- 
ing for  about  two  months  to  identify  a 
strange-looking  and  strange-acting  bird 


Good  Neighbors 

M  issy  Blanford  of  Potosi  was  watering 
her  flower  garden  last  summer,  when 
she  heard  a  noise  around  the  base  of 
a  plant.  She  raised  the  bottom  leaves 
to  find  a  fence  lizard  laying  eggs.  Later 
in  the  summer,  she  found  numerous 
baby  fence  lizards  in  her  garden. 


that  I  found  in  my  backyard. 

The  bird  hid  among  the  fallen  leaves 
in  our  yard,  and  it  was  there  for  about 
two  or  three  days.  I  thought  it  might  be 
hurt  because  it  preferred  to  hide  rather 
than  fly  away.  However,  the  last  time  I 
saw  this  bird  was  when  I  came  too  close 
and  it  did  fly  away.  I've  never  seen  it 
again  or  any  other  bird  quite  like  it  until 
I  looked  at  your  front  cover. 

At  first  I  thought  I  might  be  mistaken 
about  my  identification  of  the  bird  until 
I  read  it  is  found  in  Missouri— particu- 
larly when  woodcocks  migrate  back  to 
Missouri  in  February  or  March. 

No  one  else  in  my  family  saw  this 
bird,  and  I  think  they  thought  I  was  see- 
ing things.  It  is  true  that  this  is  the  first 
woodcock  I  have  ever  seen. 

Marilyn  Starks,Sikeston 

WILDLIFE  ADDITION 

This  morning,  I  was  walking  around  my 
lake  on  my  property  near  Blackwater  on 
the  Lamine  River. 

All  in  a  span  of  about  30  minutes,  I 
saw  14  deer  in  a  field  next  to  our  house, 
20-plus  turkeys  in  the  same  field,  two 
bald  eagles  on  the  river  in  a  tree,  two 
beavers  in  the  lake,  six  geese  and  one 
opossum. That  animal  comes  every 
night  to  eat  the  cat  food. 

These  numbers  are  typical  for  almost 
every  day. Thank  you  for  what  you  have 
done  for  the  state! 

Benton  Fox,  Blackwater 

TRACTORTALE 

In  1949,  my  family  moved  to  a  farm  just 
inside  the  Pike  County  line  and  west  of 
Gazette,  a  small  country  town  with  a 
store,  post  office  and  blacksmith  shop. 
After  hearing  booming  sounds  the  day 
before,  we  hid  one  morning  in  the 
hedge  tree  row  to  see  if  we  could  see 
what  was  making  the  noise.  In  a  short 
time,  we  saw  at  least  a  hundred  prairie 
chickens  in  front  of  us.The  male  birds 
were  strutting  and  making  booming 
sounds. 


In  the  spring  of  1950,  we  stood  and 
watched  over  our  north  fence  line  as 
two  tractors  plowed  up  a  section  of 
prairie  grass.The  prairie  chickens 
flushed  all  day  as  the  tractors  plowed. 
Within  a  couple  years,  we  no  longer 
heard  any  more  booming. 

Larry  Hendricks,  Montgomery  City 

FISHING  FIRST 

I  would  like  to  thank  you  for  your  letter, 
the  picture  and  the  First  Fish  Certificate 
you  sent  to  my  daughter  in  J  anuary. 

It  came  just  in  time  for  my  daughter 
to  take  it  to  "Show  and  TelTand  share 
it  with  her  third-grade  classmates.  She 
was  very  proud.  It  definitely  brought 
back  some  exciting  memories  for  her, 
as  it  really  was  her  "first  fish." 

I  realize  the  First  Fish  program  must 
be  an  effort  that  takes  time  and  money, 
and  I  think  it  is  wonderful  that  there  are 
resources  for  a  program  like  this. 

Andrea  Rueckerl,  Carl  J  unction 

OVERSEAS  DUTY 

I  grew  up  in  Arnold,  but  learned  to  hunt 
and  fish  at  my  grandparents' 40-acre 
farm  in  Harviell. 

I  am  currently  serving  in  Iraq,  and 
one  of  the  things  that  helps  me  get 
through  this  deployment  is  the  copy  of 
the  Missouri  Conservationist  that  my 
mother  sends  me  each  month.  I  brag  to 
other  soldiers  about  M  issouri's  great 
conservation  agency  that  works  with 
private  landowners  to  preserve  our 
ecosystems  for  future  generations. 

The  whole  magazine  is  great,  but  the 
part  I  most  enjoy  is  "Reflections."  It  lets 
me  look  into  other  M  issourians'  lives 
and  see  how  the  great  outdoors  has 
changed  or  shaped  their  way  of  life. 

T.  Chilton,  Sgt.  U.S.  Army 

RISKTAKING 

I've  enjoyed  your  publication  for  years, 
but  as  a  retired  construction  safety 
consultant,  I  feel  I  should  point  out 
some  safety  concerns  in  the  pictures 


2  Missouri  Conservationist 


accompanying  your  J  anuary  article 
about  building  a  dugout  canoe. 

On  page  21  and  22, the  men  working 
on  the  canoe  are  not  using  the  face,  eye 
or  foot  protection  recommended  in  the 
text. The  photo  on  page  21  shows  a 
man  swinging  an  adze  while  wearing 


only  moccasins  on  his  feet. 

A  good  demonstration  should 
include  teaching  the  use  of  personal 
protective  equipment  and  safe  working 
procedures.  Safety  equipment  can  only 
prevent  injuries  if  it  is  used. 

John  H.Wheeler, St. Paul, Missouri 


The  letters  printed  here  reflect  readers'opinions  about  the  Conservationist  and  its  contents. 
Space  limitations  prevent  usfrom  printing  all  letters,  but  we  welcome  signed  comments 
from  our  readers.  Letters  may  be  edited  for  length  and  clarity. 


Ask  the  Ombudsman 


QiWe  have  a  beautiful  sweetgum  tree  in  our  yard. 
■The  foliage  is  stunning  in  the  fall,  but  the  "gum 
balls" that  fall  from  the  tree  are  a  real  nuisance.  We 
rake  and  bag  for  days.  I've  heard  about  a  chemical  that 
will  get  rid  of  them.  What  can  you  tell  me  about  it? 


A 


.Your  local  lawn  and  garden  center  should  be  able  to  pro- 
vide you  with  information  about  Florel®Fruit  Eliminator. 
There's  also  helpful  information  from  the  University  Extension  web  site, 
<http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/qa/horticulture0001.htm>. 

Another  possibility  would  be  to  keep  raking  the  fruit  capsules  and  use  them  as 
mulch  around  your  trees.  Some  folks  have  also  found  some  creative  uses  for  the  fruit 
capsules  in  craft  projects. 


Q 


I  Can  I  hunt  mushrooms  on  conservation  areas? 


A.  Chapter  11  of  the  Wildlife  Code  covers  special  regulations  on  department  areas. 
■  For  details  please  see  <www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/3csr/3csr.asp  >. 
Here's  an  excerpt  that  ad  dresses  foraging: 

3  CSR  10-11.135  Wild  Plants,  Plant  Products, and  Mushrooms 

(1)  Nuts,  berries,  fruits,  ediblewildgreensand  mushrooms  may  be  taken  only  for 
personal  consumption,  unless  further  restricted  in  this  chapter. 

(A)  On  Conservation  Commission  Headquarters,  Powder  Valley  Conservation  Nature 
Center,  Runge  Conservation  Nature  Center  and  Springfield  Conservation  Nature  Center, 
taking  of  nuts,  berries, fruits,  edible  wild  greens  and  mushrooms  is  prohibited. 

(B)On  Burr  Oak  Woods  Conservation  Area  and  Rockwoods  Reservation,  taking  of 
nuts,  berries, fruits  and  edible  wild  greens  is  prohibited. 

(C)On  areas  designated  by  the  Conservation  Commission  as  Missouri  Natural 
Areas,  taking  edible  wild  greens  is  prohibited. 

Please  note  that  root  collecting  is  prohibited  by  another  portion  of  Chapter  11 
which  forbids  digging. 

Ombudsman  Ken  Drenon  will  respond  to  your  questions,  suggestions  or  complaints 
concerning  Conservation  Department  programs.  Write  him  at  P.O.  Box  180J  efferson 
Qty,MO65102-0180,callhimat573/522-4115,ext.3848,ore-mailhimat 
<Ken.drenon@mdc.mo.gov>. 


GOVERNOR  Bob  Holden 

THE  CONSERVATION  COMMISSION 

Stephen  C.Bradford 
Anita  B.Gorman 
Cynthia  Metcalfe 
Lowell  Mohler 

DIRECTOR  John  Hoskins 

DEPUTY  DIRECTOR  John  W.Smith 
DEPUTY  DIRECTOR  Stephen  J.Wilson 
ASSISTANT  TO  THE  DIRECTOR  Denise  Gamier 
ASSISTANTTO  THE  DIRECTOR  Robert  Ziehmer 
INTERNAL  AUDITOR  Robbie  B.Briscoe 
GENERAL  COUNSEL  Craig  Evans 

DIVISIONS 

ADMINISTRATIVE  SERVICES  Carter  Campbell 

FISHERIES  Steve  Eder 

FORESTRY  Bob  Krepps 

HUMAN  RESOURCES  Debbie  Goff 

OUTREACH  &  EDUCATION  Lorna  Domke 

PRIVATE  LAND  SERVICES  Lisa  G.Allen 

PROTECTION  Dennis  Steward 

RESOURCE  SCIENCE  Dale  D.Humburg 

WILDLIFE  Dave  Erickson 

REGIONAL  OFFICES 

Cape  Girardeau/Southeast-  573/290-5730 
Columbia/Central-  573/884-6861 
Kansas  City- 816/655-6250 
Kirksville/Northeast-  660/785-2420 
Springfield/Southwest—  417/895-6880 
St.Joseph/Northwest- 816/271-3100 
St.  Louis- 636/441-4554 
West  Plains/Ozark- 417/256-7161 

CONSERVATIONIST  STAFF 
EDITOR  Tom  Cwynar 
MANAGING  EDITOR  Bryan  Hendricks 
ART  EDITOR  Ara  Clark 
ARTIST  Dave  Besenger 
ARTIST  MarkRaithel 
PHOTOGRAPHER  Jim  Rathert 
PHOTOGRAPHER  Cliff  White 
STAFF  WRITER  Jim  Low 
STAFF  WRITER  Joan  Mckee 
CIRCULATION  Laura  Scheuler 


The  Missouri  Conservationist  (ISSN  0026-6515)  is  the  official  monthly 
publication  of  the  Missouri  Department  of  Conservation,  2901  West  Tru- 
man BoulevardJ efferson  City, MO  (Mailing  address: P.O. Box  180, 
Jefferson  City, MO  65102.)  Subscription  free  to  adult  Missouri  residents; 
out  of  state  $7  per  year;  out  of  country  $10  per  year.  Notification  of 
address  change  must  include  both  old  and  new  address  (send  mailing 
label  with  the  subscriber  number  on  it)  with  60-day  notice.  Preferred 
periodical  postage  paid  atjefferson  City,Mo.,and  at  additional  entry 
offices.  Postmaster: Send  correspondence  to  Circulation,  P.O.  Box  180, 
Jefferson  City, MO  65102-0180.Phone:573/751-4115.Copyright  ©2003 
by  the  Conservation  Commission  of  the  State  of  Missouri. 


Equal  opportunity  to  participate  in  and  benefit  from  programs  of  the 
Missouri  Department  of  Conservation  is  available  to  all  individuals  with- 
out regard  to  their  race,  color,  national  origin,  sex,  age  or  disability. Com- 
plaints of  discrimination  should  be  sent  to  the  Department  of  Conser- 
vation, P.O.  Box  180,Jefferson  City,  MO  65102,OR  U.S.  Fish  &  Wildlife  Ser- 
vice, 18th  and  "C'Streets  NW, Washington  D.C. 20240, 
M  issouri  Relay  Center  - 1-800-735-2966  (TDD). 

Printed  in  USA 


May 2004  3 


Stash  That 


by  Chris  Riggert 
photos  by  Cliff  White 


Small,  red  mesh  bags  keep  tons  of  litter 
from  Missouri^floatable  streams. 


On  a  gorgeous  day  in  May, 
you're  floating  a  sparkling 
Missouri  stream, fishing  for 
smallmouth  bass, enjoying 
the  wildlife  you  see  and 
just  generally  enjoying  yourself.  Amid  the 
excitement,  you  get  thirsty  and  pull  a  soda 
from  your  cooler. 

If  you  rented  your  canoe  from  one  of 
the  float  outfitters  that  participate  in  the 
Stash  Your  Trash!  program, you  were 
probably  given  a  red  mesh  trash  bag. This 
is  the  perfect  place  to  put  your  empty 
drink  containers,  and  for  collecting  trash 
that  others  have  thoughtlessly  left  behind. 


Stash  YourTrash  bags  help  keep  our  waterways  clean. 


May 2004  5 


The  M  issouri  Department  of  Conservation 
recently  began  the  No  M  Ore  Trash!  program  to 
help  reduce  the  amount  of  litter  in  the  state. 
WhiletheNo  M  Ore  Trash!  program  addresses  lit- 
tering in  general,  Stash  Your  Trash  specifically  targets 
trash  on  M  issouri 's  streams.  It  is  administered  through 
the  Conservation  Department's  Missouri  stream  unit 
and  the  Stream  Team  Program. 

Long  before  Stash  Your  Trash  began,  a  few  liveries 
were  providing  plastic  bags  to  floaters.  I  n  the  early  1980s, 
float  outfitters  Gene  M  aggard  and  Gary  Smith,  conces- 
sion specialist  Dean  Einwalter  from  the  U.S.  National 
Park  Service,  and  two  representatives  from  Anheuser- 
Busch,  Inc.,  met  in  I  ronton  to  discuss  organizing  a 
stream  anti-littering  program.  Anheuser-Busch  donated 
$5,000  to  start  the  project. 

In  1986, The  National  Park  Service,  Anheuser-Busch 
and  the  float  outfitters  on  the  Current  and  Jacks  Fork 
Rivers  launched  Operation  Clean  Stream,  a  pilot  project 
to  reduce  stream  litter  on  a  20-mile  sect  ion  of  the  Cur- 
rent River,  from  Akers  Ferry  to  Round  Spring.  Every 
canoe  livery  in  the  pilot  area  provided  a  free,  orange 
nylon  mesh  trash  sack  to  every  rented  canoe.  During  the 
pilot  project,  18  tons  of  trash  was  collected,  including 
1,100  pounds  of  aluminum.  The  aluminum  cans  were 
collected  from  bins  and  sold  by  theThree  Rivers  Handi- 


Stream  clean-up  teams  usually  pick  up  the  big  stuff,  while  The  Stash  Your  Trash  program 
keeps  paper,  bottles  and  cans  from  accumulating  in  our  waterways. 


The  Stash  YourTrash  bags  help  a 
great  number  of  considerate  people 
enjoy  a  day  on  the  river  without 
leaving  anything  harmful  behind. 


cap  Sheltered  Workshop  in  Eminence. 

John  Hoskins,  director  of  the  Missouri  Department  of 
Conservation,  was  the  Ozark  Region  Protection  Supervi- 
sor at  that  time.  He  proposed  that  the  Department  of 
Conservation  implement  the  program  on  the  North  Fork, 
Eleven  Point,  Big  Piney,  Black,  Gasconade  and  other  rivers. 
Hoskins  believed  that  expanding  the  program  would  pro- 
duce cleaner  streams.  He  believed  it  would  increase  public 
awareness  about  the  need  for  litter  control. 

"People  go  out  on  the  river  with  the  best  intentions," 
Hoskins  said.  "They  don't  want  to  hurt  anything,  but 
they're  not  prepared.  They'll  go  all  day  collecting  their 
trash  carefully,  not  throwing  anything  into  the  river.  But  if 
their  canoe  turns  over,  out  goes  all  the  trash.  They  can't 
get  it  back." 

Hoskins  said  today's 
canoeists  seem  to  be  more 
conservation-minded  than 
in  the  past. 

"The  Stash  Your  Trash 
bags  help  a  great  number  of 
considerate  people  enjoy  a 
day  on  the  river  without 
leaving  anything  harmful 
behind,"  he  said. 

In  1987,  the  Conservation 
Commission  approved  a 
pilot  anti-littering  program 
on  the  Meramec  River, 
Huzzah  Creek,  Courtois 
Creek,  and  Gasconade  River. 
This  program  was  tied  to  the 
Conservation  Department's 
50th  Anniversary  and 
ran  from  April  1  through 
Labor  Day. 

The  Conservation 
Department  purchased 
110,000  trash  bags,  which 
Conservation  Agents 


6  Missouri  Conservationist 


5£ 


.* 


7W               ^-       ..^t 

J-  "*  j 

* 

i 

Recreational  canoeists  and  volunteer  river  clean-up  crews  fill  thousands  of  trash  bags  each  year. 


THE  HIGH  COST  OF  LITTER 


by  Ginny  Wallace 


Whether  you're  hunting,  fishing,  canoeing  or  hiking, 
litter  can  spoil  any  outdoor  experience.The  people 
of  Missouri  are  having  to  spend  extra  time  and 
money  to  keep  from  being  overwhelmed  by  litter. 

The  impact  of  litter  extends  beyond  what  can  be 
measured  in  dollars.  Foam  cups  and  empty  cans 
attract  raccoons,  opossums,  snakes  and  other 
wildlife,  and  some  animals  get  their  heads  stuck 
inside.  Animals  have  tangled  themselves  in  the  six- 
pack  plastic  rings  used  to  hold  beverage  cans. 

Monofilament  line  is  especially  dangerous  to 
wildlife.  Most  monofilament  biodegrades  very 
slowly.  Because  it's  thin  and  often  clear,  birds  and 
other  animals  can  easily  become  tangled  in  it  and 
may  become  injured,  drown  or  starve  to  death. 
When  birds  use  monofilament  line  in  their  nests, 
their  chicks  may  fatally  entangle  themselves. 

Cigarette  filters  look  like  cotton,  but  they  are 
made  of  cellulose  acetate,  a  long-lasting  plastic. 
Chemicals  in  cigarette  filters,  as  well  as  in  the  tobacco 
portion  of  the  cigarette,  leach  into  water  and  are  toxic 
to  some  aquatic  organisms.  Because  they  are  small 
and  lightweight,  rainwater  easily  transports  the  ciga- 
rette filters  into  our  rivers,  lakes  and  ponds. 


In  Missouri,  littering  is  a  Class  A  misdemeanor 
with  a  fine  of  up  to  $1,000  and/or  a  year  in  jail.  At 
conservation  areas,  signs  posted  in  every  parking  lot 
inform  visitors  of  the  fines  for  littering.  In  a  few  areas, 
glass  food  and  beverage  containers  are  banned. 

Conservation  agents  patrol  areas  regularly  and 
issue  tickets  for  littering.  In  2002,  they  wrote  261 
tickets  and  recovered  more  than  $14,000  in  fines  and 
court  costs.  Unfortunately,  the  fines  don't  come  close 
to  covering  the  cost  of  littering  to  Missouri  taxpayers. 

The  Missouri  Department  of  Transportation 
spends  nearly  $6  million  each  year  on  litter  pick  up. 
Adopt-A-Highway  groups  contribute  about  $1  mil- 
lion worth  of  effort. 


No»i;E 

TrasW! 

I—  nomoretrash.org  -I 


In  2002,  the  departments  of  Conservation  and 
Transportation  teamed  up  to  launch  a  litter  preven- 
tion program  entitled  No  M  Ore  Trash!  The  thrust  of 
the  program  is  to  educate  people  about  the  destruc- 
tive impact  and  high  cost  of  littering. 

Littering  is  a  problem  we  can  solve.  Here  are  a 
few  things  you  can  do  to  make  a  difference: 

•  Remove  items  from  your  boat  and  pickup  bed 
that  can  blow  out  onto  roadways. 

•  Retrieve  lost  or  broken  monofilament  line  and 
six-pack  rings. 

•Take  along  a  trash  bag  to  dispose  of  your 
trash,  then  take  it  home. 

•  Don't  throw  items  in  outdoor  privies  that 
might  interfere  with  pumping  out  the  tanks. 

•  Don't  leave  fish  parts  on  boat  ramps  or  near 
streams.  If  you  clean  fish  near  the  water,  wrap 
the  guts  and  carcasses  and  dispose  of  them  in 
trash  containers. 

•  When  you  hunt,  pick  up  spent  cartridges. 

•  Let  your  friends  know  you  don't  approve  of 
littering-  make  it  socially  unacceptable. 

For  more  information  on  what  you  can  do,  visit  the 
No  MOre  Trash!  website  <www.nomoretrash.org>. 


May 2004  7 


Volunteer  Stream  Teams  keep  many  of  our  waterways  clean. 

STREAM  TEAMS 

The  Stream  Team  Program  is  sponsored  by  the  Missouri  Department  of 
Conservation,  the  Missouri  Department  of  Natural  Resources,  and  the 
Conservation  Federation  of  M  issouri.  Nearly  50,000  volunteers  are  members 
of  2,500 Teams  in  Missouri. 

Stream  Teams  provide  an  opportunity  for  everyone  to  get  involved  in 
river  conservation.  For  more  information  about  Missouri's  Stream  Team  pro- 
gram, check  out  the  Stream  Team  website  at  <www.mostreamteam.org>, 
send  an  e-mail  to  <  streamteam@mo.mdc.gov> ,  or  call  the  Stream  Team 
voice-mail  at  800/781-1989. 

More  than  100  float  outfitters  participating  in  the  Stash  YourTrash 
Program  offer  a  discount  to  Stream  Teams. These  discounts  are  available  to 
Teams  renting  canoes  to  perform  Stream  Team  activities,  such  as  litter 
pickups  and  water  quality  monitoring.  A  list  of  these  and  all  canoe  liveries 
can  be  found  on  the  Missouri  Department  of  Conservation  web  site 
through  the  fishing  page,  <www.missouriconservation.org/fish/>. 


distributed  to  participating  float  outfitters.  The  program 
worked  so  well  that  agents  and  float  outfitters  recom- 
mended expanding  it  to  include  all  major  float  streams 
in  southern  Missouri.  In  1988,  the  Stash  YourTrash 
went  statewide. 

In  1997,  the  M  issouri  Stream  Team  Program  began 
buying  the  bags  to  give  to  Stream  Teams  for  their  litter 
pickups.  I  n  1999,  the  Stream  Team  Program  was  given 
full  administrative  responsibility  for  the  Stash  Your 
Trash  program  and  its  characteristic  red  mesh  bags. 
It  was  a  perfect  fit.  They  provided  the  bags  to  float 
outfitters  who,  in  turn,  encouraged  canoeists  to  use 
them.  Rather  than  being  dumped  into  streams,  trash 
found  its  way  into  bins  at  takeout  points.  M  uch  of 
it  was  recycled. 

Bob  Burns  operates  the  Niangua  River  Oasis  near 
Lebanon.  During  some  of  the  early  clean-ups  on  the 
Niangua,  Burns  said  participants  brought  in  tires  and 
even  a  soda  pop  machine.  Thanks  to  conscientious 
floaters,  the  river  is  in  much  better  shape  now  than  it 
was,  but  Burns  said  there's  still  plenty  of  room  for 
improvement. 

"M  ost  of  what  we  see  now  are  cans  and  coolers,  the 
kind  of  thing  that  folks  have  in  their  canoes  with  them," 
Burns  said. 

"Stash  Your  Trash  is  a  wonderful  program,"  he  said. 
"Each  Saturday  we  pick  up  two  to  three  pickup  loads  of 
trash  that  the  floaters  have  picked  up  along 
the  way.  That's  between  100  and  150  pick-up  loads  of 
trash  each  year  that  would  otherwise  end  up  in  the 
Niangua  River." 

Having  the  bags  aboard  seems  to  encourage  floaters  to 
look  for  litter  to  fill  them.  Delores  Swoboda,  operator  of 
Devil's  Back  Floats  on  the  Bourbeuse  River  said,  "Not 
only  are  floaters  picking  up  their  own  trash,  they  are 
picking  up  trash  others  have  left  behind." 

Gene  M  aggard  operates thejacks  Fork,  Akers  Ferry, 
Round  Spring,  and  Wild  River  canoe  rentals  on  thejacks 
Fork  and  Current  rivers.  He  said  floaters  collect  tons  of 
trash  from  these  famous  rivers  every  year. 

"We've  seen  everything,"  M  aggard  said,  "from  tires  to 
steel  traps  to  false  teeth !" 

Last  year,  the  Stream  Team  Program  provided  more  than 
250,000  bags  to  almost  125  float  outfitters  and  hundreds  of 
Stream  Teams. These  bags  helped  keep  an  estimated  1,000 
tons  of  trash  out  of  M  issouri 's  rivers  in  2003,  alone. 

Next  time  you  are  enjoying  one  of  M  issouri 's  beautiful 
streams,  Stash  YourTrash  in  the  familiar  red  mesh  bag 
provided  by  your  outfitter.  M  ake  sure  you  tie  the  reusable 
bag  to  the  canoe  strut  so  your  trash  won't  float  down- 
stream if  you  overturn.  ▲ 


8  Missouri  Conservationist 


v_r 


I 


After  a 

single 

fishing 

trip,  your 

child 

maybe 

hooked. 

by  Marvin  Boyer 
photos  by  Cliff  White 


Daddy, 

I  got  one!" 


Catching  his  or  her  first  fish  is  one  of  a  child's  greatest  thrills.  It's 
every  bit  equal  to  that  of  the  first  solo  bike  ride,  hitting  a  homerun, 
or  jumping  off  the  school  bus  after  the  first  day  at  school.  For  many 
children,  that  first  fish  is  the  beginning  of  a  lifelong  love  affair. 

Usually  all  it  takes  to  get  a  child        fishing  line.  You'll  need  all  the 


hooked  on  fishing  is  onefun  experi- 
ence. Fishing  naturally  attracts  most 
children,  but  you  can  help  make 
their  first  fishing  trip  more  success- 
ful and  more  enjoyable. 

Patience 

Patience  is  the  golden  ingredient  in 
all  teaching,  but  it's  especially 
important  with  a  task  that  requires 
hand/ eye  coordination  and  involves 
something  that  tangles  as  much  as 


patience  you  can  muster  to  deal 
with  twisted  or  knotted  lines,  snags, 
spilled  tackle  boxes,  dropped  sand- 
wiches, spilled  drinks,  dumped  min- 
now buckets  and  other  mishaps. 
Some,  or  all,  of  these  things  happen 
eventually  on  almost  every  fishing 
trip  with  children,  so  resign  yourself 
to  them  and  be  patient. 

Maintaining  a  cheerful  attitude  will 
go  a  long  way  toward  keeping  the  out- 
ing pleasant  for  a  child.  On  the  other 


hand,  any  frustration  you  show  might 
ruin  the  experience  and  discourage 
the  child  from  wanting  to  go  again. 

If  you  want  your  child  to  catch 
fish  and  have  fun,  don't  even  take  a 
rod  and  reel  for  yourself.  You  will  be 
too  busy  to  fish. 

When  teaching  a  child  to  fish, 
your  goals  are  different  than  when 
you're  fishing  alone  or  with  friends. 
With  a  child,  the  goal  is  for  the  child 
to  want  to  fish  again.  Don't  worry 
about  catching  enough  for  a  fish  fry 
or  catching  trophy  fish.  These  things 
will  all  come  later.  For  a  kid,  a  fish  is 
a  fish.  Keep  it  simple  and  measure 
your  success  by  smiles  and  by  the 
memories  the  trip  creates. 


May  2004   11 


Attention  Span 

When  planning  a  fishing  trip,  parents 
should  consider  a  child's  short  atten- 
tion span  and  need  for  variety.  Don't 
take  long  tri ps  or  fish  for  species  that 
can't  be  predictably  caught.  Try  to 
time  the  trips  to  coincide  with  when 
the  fish  bite  best.  Usually  this  is  early 
i  n  the  day  or  very  late  i  n  the  day.  On 
summer  mornings,  you  can  fish  a  few 
hours  until  the  sun  makes  it  too  hot, 
or  you  can  plan  atrip  in  the  evening 
until  it  gets  dark. 

Otherwise,  think  about  short  trips 
with  definite  quitting  times.  For 
example,  you  might  go  fishing  before 
going  to  church  or  to  grandma's  for 
lunch.  As  a  rule,  try  to  quit  fishing 
before  the  kids  get  bored. 

Preparation 

Prepare  the  kids  for  fishing  by  giving 
them  a  little  backyard  practice  with 
a  casting  plug.  You  can  make  a  game 
of  it  by  putting  out  hula  hoops  or 
garbage  cans  for  targets.  Kids  will 
catch  on  to  casting  quickly,  and  you 
won't  have  to  train  them  in  that 
basic  skill  at  the  fishing  hole.  Prac- 
tice also  builds  anticipation.  It 
makes  kids  eager  to  go  fishing. 
M  ake  sure  you  pack  snacks, 
drinks,  sunscreen,  bug  spray,  per- 
sonal flotation  devices  and  proper 
tackle.  Most  kids  would  love  to  have 


a  little  tackle  box  of  their  own.  Stock 
it  with  with  basic  items,  including 
bobbers,  split  shot  and  #6  panfish 
hooks,  which  are  perfect  for  catching 
sunfish  or  catfish.  For  usually  less 
than  $20,  you  can  buy  them  their 
own  fishing  rod  and  reel.  Look  for  a 
light-  to  medium-weight  rod  with  a 
push-button  spinning  reel.  These  are 
the  easiest  reels  to  learn  to  cast. 

Plan  on  using  live  bait.  It  usually 
results  in  more  success  than  artifi- 
cial lures,  plus  kids  love  the  idea  of 
catching  bait.  They  can  dig  for 
worms  in  leaf  piles  or  chase  crickets 
or  grasshoppers.  Show  them  how  to 
dip  a  fine-mesh  net  into  the  water  to 
catch  frogs,  minnows,  crayfish  and 
water  bugs,  which  are  plentiful  at 
most  fishing  holes. 

Where  to  go? 

Take  kids  to  a  comfortable  and 
scenic  fishing  spot  with  lots  of  eager 
fish.  Private  farm  ponds  and  subdivi- 
sion lakes  often  have  grassy  banks 
and  good  fish  populations.  If  the 
landowner  feeds  the  fish,  catching 
them  is  all  but  guaranteed.  Wading 
small  rivers  or  large  streams  is  also 


very  enjoyable.  The  fish  tend  to  be 
naive,  and  the  scenery  is  beautiful. 

Public  waters  managed  by  the 
M  issouri  Department  of  Conserva- 
tion are  available  in  every  county. 
They  are  usually  well  maintained 
and  offer  good  fishing.  In  fact,  Kids 
Fishing  Clinics,  sponsored  by  the 
Conservation  Department,  take 
place  on  many  Department  areas.  At 
these  clinics,  Department  employees 
and  volunteers  teach  basic  fishing 
skills  and  provide  general  assistance 
to  the  kids.  To  improve  the  fishing, 
the  lakes  used  for  the  clinics  are 
stocked  with  hybrid  sunfish  and 
channel  catfish. 

The  Conservation  Department 
also  offers  conservation  and  outdoor 
recreation  programs  to  students  in 
all  grade  levels.  These  aquatic  educa- 
tion programs  combine  local  ecology 
and  conservation  principles  with 
angling  and  other  aquatic  outdoor 
skills  and  ethics.  The  programs  are 
always  free  of  charge.  If  you  are  a 
teacher  or  youth  group  leader,  con- 
tact the  conservation  education  con- 
sultant at  your  local  Department 
office  for  more  information.  ▲ 


12  Missouri  Conservationist 


Kids  Fishing  Opportunities  by  Region 

Call  regional  Conservation  Department  offices  for  more  details 
St.  Louis  Region  636/441-4554 

Resource 

Area  Name                           County           Date 

Notes 

Lake  12 

August  A.  Busch  Memorial 
Conservation  Area 

St.  Charles 

Year-round 

Open  to  public  15  and  under 

Kids  Fishing  Fair 

August  A.  Busch  Memorial 
Conservation  Area 

St.  Charles 

3rd  Saturday  in  May 

Annual  event  open  to  public-Free 

Kids  Fishing  Day 

Maramec  Spring 

Phelps 

May  15 

Annual  event  open  to  public-Free 

Kansas  City  Region  816/655-6250 

Resource 

Area  Name                        |    County           Date 

Notes 

Blue  Springs  Lake 
Disabled  Angler  Clinic 

Blue  Springs  Lake  Marina 

Jackson 

Ttie  Saturday  of  Free 
Fishing  Weekend 

Open  to  disabled  anglers  of  all 
ages.  Anglers  must  pre-register 

Lion's  Lake 

Warrensburg  City  Park 

Johnson 

1st  Saturday  in  June 

Annual  event  open  to  public-Free 

Honker  Pond 

James  A.  Reed  Memorial 
Wildlife  Area 

Jackson 

Year-round 

Open  to  public  15  and  under 

Kids  Fishing  Fair 

James  A.  Reed  Memorial 
Wildlife  Area 

Jackson 

1st  Saturday  after  Mother's  Day 

Annual  event  open  to  public-Free 

National  Hunting 
and  Fishing  Day 

James  A.  Reed  Memorial 
Wildlife  Area 

Jackson 

Last  Saturday  in  September 

Annual  event  open  to  public-Free 

Conservation  Day 

Clinton  M  DC  Office 

Henry 

2nd  or  3rd  weekend  in  May 

Annual  event  free  to  kids  15  and  under 

Northeast  Region  660/785-2420 

Resource 

Area  Name 

County 

Date 

Notes 

Tom  Sawyer  Lake 

Mark  Twain  State  Park 

Monroe 

June  12 

9am- 12am,  poles  available-573/565- 3440 

Henderson  Lake 

Indian  Creek  Recreation  Area- 
Mark  Twain  Lake 

Monroe 

June  12 

Call  573/735-4097  for  details 

Northwest  Region  816/271-3100 

Resource 

Area  Name 

County 

Date 

Notes 

3rd  Annual 
Crappie  Festival 

Pony  Express 
Conservation  Area 

DeKalb 

2nd  or  3rd  Saturday  in  May 

Annual  Event  open  to  the  public. 
Free.  Call  816/271-3100  for  details 

Special  Event  Pond 

Poosey  Conservation  Area 

Livingston 

Scheduled  Events 

Call  660/646-6122  for  details 

Special  Event  Pond 

Hartell  Conservation  Area 

Clinton 

Scheduled  Events 

Call  816/271-3100  for  details 

Central  Region  573/884-6861 

Resource 

Area  Name 

County 

Date 

Notes 

Special  Event  Pond 

Manito  Lake 

Conservation  Area 

Moniteau 

Scheduled 

Call  for  reservations 

Cromley  Pond 

Blind  Pony 
Conservation  Area 

Saline 

Open  year-round 

Open  to  public  15  and  under 

Raccoon  Run  Spur  Pond 

Runge  Conservation 
Nature  Center 

Cole 

Contact  Runge  for 
Scheduled  special  events 

LeroyRottman  Memorial 

Kids  Fishing  Clinic 

Cosmo  Bethel  Lake 

Boone 

Free  Fishing  Saturday 

Annual  event  free  to  public 

Ozark  Region  417/256-7161 

Resource 

Area  Name 

County 

Date 

Notes 

Kids  Fishing  Day 

Montauk  Hatchery  &  State  Park 

Dent 

May  15 

6:30  a.m. -8:15  p.m. 

Kids  Fishing  Day 

Maramec  Spring  Hatchery  &  Park 

Phelps 

May  15 

6:30  a.m.- 8:15  p.m. 

Doniphan  Police 
Department  Fishing  Clinic 

Private  Pond 

Ripley 

June9 

Open  to  kids  age  5-15,  limited  to  first  50. 
Lunch  provided.  Call  573/996-7123. 

Southwest  Region  417/895-6880 

Resource 

Area  Name 

County 

Date 

Notes 

Kids  Fishing  Day 

Bennett's  Spring 
Hatchery  and  State  Park 

Dallas 

May  15 

6:30  a.m.- 8:15  p.m. 

Southest  Region  573/290-5730 

Resource 

Area  Name 

County 

Date 

Notes 

Kids  Fishing  Weekend 

CombsLake 

Dunklin  Co. 

TBA 

Contact  Eric  Heuring  573/717-1042 

Some  Like  it 


Each  spring,  salamanders  migrate  to  ephemeral  pools  for 
the  breeding  season.  ByRodDooien 


y  son  really  knows  how  to  party!  For  his  tenth 
birthday,  for  example,  he  asked  me  to  take  him 
and  some  of  his  friends  for  a  romp  through 
some  salamander  pools.  I  was  glad  to  comply.  Outdoor 
excursions  are  a  lot  more  fun,  and  a  lot  less  expensive, 
than  video  games,  and  besides,  I  enjoy  stomping  through 
the  mud  as  much  as  he  does. 

It  wasa  warm  March  day  with  a  light  wind.  The  trees 
were  still  bare.  Our  destination  was  a  20-acre  field  that 
held  four  ephemeral  pools.  Ephemeral  pools  are  shallow, 
temporary  bodies  of  water  that  appear  in  both  lowland 
and  upland  areas  during  spring.  They  are  shallower  than 
ponds  but  bigger  than  puddles.  The  four  pools  in  this 
particular  field  are  important  habitat  components  for 
seven  amphibian  species. 

All  of  these  species  need  shelter.  At  the  first  pool  we 
turned  over  wooden  slabs  and  small  tree  trunks  that  had 
been  placed  in  the  pool  to  make  hiding  places  for  sala- 
manders. Boy,  did  we  find  a  lot  of  them!  Wading  through 
shallow  water  pools  and  watching  wildlife  was  a  great 
way  to  spend  time  with  my  son  and  his  friends. 

These  shallow  pools  did  not  exist  three  years  before 
our  trip.  They  are  products  of  wetland  habitat  improve- 
ment projects  on  land  managed  by  the  Missouri  Depart- 
ment of  Conservation. 


Smaller  than  ponds  but  bigger  than  puddles,  ephemeral  pools 
provide  breeding  habitat  for  many  reptiles  and  amphibians. 


Wetlands  have  been  altered,  destroyed  and  generally 
reduced  all  across  the  country.  People  seldom  consider 
that  shallow  pools  could  be  important  wildlife  habitat  so 
they  fill  them  with  earth  or  dig  them  out  deeper.  Thou- 
sands of  ephemeral  pools,  along  with  their  benefits  to 
plant  and  wildlife  species,  have  disappeared. 

A  large  variety  of  plants  and  animals  use  these  pools. 
Salamanders,  frogs,  toads,  wetland  plants,  reptiles,  deer, 
turkey,  quail  and  many  other  species,  including  herons 
and  ducks,  take  advantage  of  ephemeral  pools. 

Fortunately,  for  all  of  these  species,  small,  shallow, 
ephemeral  pools  can  be  restored  or  created  with  little 
effort. 

First  a  location  for  a  pool  must  be  identified.  Topo- 
graphical maps  can  be  a  big  help  in  identifying  low  sites. 
Depressions  or  old  stream  channels  noted  on  maps  may 
be  excellent  places  for  pools. 

Ideal  locations  are  low  spots  in  fields  or  pastures  that 
tend  to  hold  standing  water  during  rains.  Seeing  where 
and  how  the  water  acts  after  a  rai  n  is  one  of  the  best 


14  Missouri  Conservationist 


ways  to  locate  potential  sites.  The  amount  of  water  accu- 
mulating in  an  area  and  the  direction  it  flows  are  impor- 
tant to  know  when  planning  a  pool. 

The  amount  of  time  water  stands  in  a  spot  indicates 
the  soil's  ability  to  hold  water  after  the  pool  isbuilt.The 
direction  water  flows  will  indicate  how  dirt  should  be 
moved  to  avoid  altering  the  natural  flow  of  water.  It's  also 
important  to  know  which  way  the  water  flows  if  you  need 
to  build  a  berm  or  small  levee.  However,  many  times  lev- 
ees are  not  needed  when  building  ephemeral  pools.  Simply 
scooping  out  a  low  site  may  make  a  fine  pool. 

Ephemeral  pools  don't  need  much  runoff  water.  The 
best  locations  are  those  that  catch  and  hold  water.  If  a 
series  of  pools  is  planned,  connecting  them  will  be 
important  for  water  flow. 

Try  to  build  ephemeral  pools  near  fencerows  or  blocks  of 
forest  so  that  salamanders  and  other  slow-moving  creatures 
can  visit  them  without  exposing  themselves  to  predators. 

Another  indicator  of  a  good  pool  site  is  vegetation. 
The  types  of  vegetation  present  in  an  area  can  tell  you 
whether  a  particular  location  is  suitable  for  a  pool. 
Smartweed,  bulrushes,  sedges  and  many  other  wetland 
plant  species  will  grow  in  moist  sites  that  provide  ade- 
quate habitat  for  the  kinds  of  creatures  that  colonize 
ephemeral  pools.  The  boundaries  of  these  areas  are  often 
clearly  defined  by  where  wetland  vegetation  stops  and 
upland  vegetation  begins. 


The  topography  or  lay  of  the  land,  also  marks  where 
the  pool  may  expand  and  contract.  Pools  wrap  around 
higher  ground  to  make  points,  and  extend  up  into  small 
"valleys."  The  varied  contours  of  the  shoreline  provide  a 
diversity  of  habitat.  The  floor  of  the  pool  should  be  irreg- 
ular, not  flat.  This  provides  a  mix  of  water  depths  for  a 
variety  of  creatures. 

Once  a  pool  site  has  been  located  and  the  potential 
boundaries  defined,  construction  can  begin.  Building 

pools  usually  requires 
machinery.  A  tractor  out- 
fitted with  a  blade  may  be 
all  you  need  to  form  a 
pool,  but  disking  will 
loosen  the  soil  and  make  it 
easier  to  move  with  the 
blade.  Thick,  deep-rooted 
plants  make  it  hard  to 
move  dirt  with  light  equip- 
ment. I  n  that  case,  a  small 
to  medium  bulldozer  may 
be  more  appropriate. 

Pool  size  depends  on  the 
site.  An  average  pool  may  be 
10  to  15  feet  wide  and  30  to 
60  feet  long,  and  the  best 
ones  will  be  no  more  than 
20  inches  in  depth.  However, 
smaller  or  larger  pools  are 
common  and  also  produce 
valuable  habitat. 

In  some  situations  it 
might  be  possible  to 


May  2004   15 


Though  they  may  disappear  during  dry  periods,  ephemeral  pools  (above,  right)  attract  birds,  like  black-capped  chickadees 
(above,  left)  and  many  amphibians,  including  gray  treefrogs  (upper  right). 


construct  a  series  of  connected  pools.  These  would  sim- 
ulate a  meandering  stream  through  which  water  would 
move  during  periods  of  high  water  flow. 

Building  ephemeral  pools  can  be  fun  and  rewarding. 
Identifying  possiblesites,  designing  the  pools,  and  doing 
the  actual  dirt  work  all  involve  being  in  the  outdoors  and 
accomplishing  work  that  will  benefit  many  species. 

Be  careful  to  avoid  locations  that  are  already  function- 
ing wetlands.  I f  there's  any  doubt  about  the  status  of  a 
site,  have  it  checked  by  a  resource  professional,  such  as  a 
private  lands  conservationist. 

Once  it  is  built,  you  can  make  your  ephemeral  pool 
more  user  friendly  to  salamanders,  crayfish,  frogs  and 
other  wetland  species.  They  need  structure  for  protec- 
tion. Good  sources  of  ephemeral  pool  structure  are 
sawmills.  Ask  for  slabs  (edges  of  trees  that  are  cut  off 
during  sawing).  These  provide  excellent  places  for  small 
creatures  to  get  under  for  protection.  Trees  and  limbs 
also  make  good  structure.  Almost  any  tree  or  limb  will 
work.  Just  lay  the  structure  you  have  available  in  the  pool 
area.  The  critters  will  do  the  rest. 


One  important  characteristic  of  ephemeral  pools  is 
thefact  that  they  usually  contain  water  in  spring  and 
early  summer.  This  is  when  many  species  of  wildlife  bear 
young.  By  the  time  the  pools  dry  in  mid  to  late  summer, 
the  young  have  grown  large  enough  to  travel  to  other 
water  sources. 

Even  after  ephemeral  pools  dry  up,  plants  continue  to 
grow  there.  These  plants  provide  food  and  shelter  for  the 
animals  that  use  the  pool  once  it  refloods. 

The  pools  may  reflood  anytime  it  rains,  but  spring 
rains  commonly  fill  ephemeral  pools,  beginning  the  cycle 
again. 

When  it  rains  in  early  spring,  salamanders  move  to 
ephemeral  pools  where  they  can  breed  and  lay  eggs.  This 
short  migration  is  sometimes  called  "running." 

Each  spring,  salamanders  migrate  across  a  section  of 
road  near  my  home.  Even  though  our  kids  are  older,  all 
four  of  us  went  this  spring  to  watch  the  salamanders.  We 
saw  several  on  the  road  and  21  in  a  small  ephemeral  pool. 

It  wasn't  on  his  birthday  this  year,  but  we  still  had  a 
great  time!  A 


16  Missouri  Conservationist 


I  T"  C  *p±  Runge  Conservation  Nature  Center  tops  the  list  of  places 

1-*^    ^A     tO  ViSit  in  JefferSOn  City.    ByKathyCavender,  Photos  by  Cliff  White 

CAPlf AL I DEA 

Where  can  you  go  in  the  Capital  City  to  see    and  much  more  at  Runge  Conservation  Nature  Center, 
a  tallgrass  prairie,  a  marsh  or  a  glade?  You        SincetheRungeConservation  NatureCenter  opened  in 
can  experience  all  of  these  wild  habitats    1993,  more  than  a  million  people  have  visited  Jefferson 


May  2004   17 


City's  urban  oasis.  According  to  the  Jefferson  City  Con- 
vention and  Visitors  Bureau,  Runge  is  the  most  visited 
attraction  in  Jefferson  City 

Runge  Conservation  Nature  Center  occupies  112  acres 
and  includes  a  27,000  square- foot  nature  center  building. 
You  will  feel  right  at  home  as  you  walkthrough  the  front 
doors  of  the  nature  center  into  the  spacious  lobby.  There 
you  can  sit  and  enjoy  a  crackling  fire  or  marvel  at  the  dis- 
play of  animal  mounts,  including  the  world-record,  non- 
typical  deer  antlers  that  came  from  a  M  issouri  deer. 

Every  other  month  you  will  see  a  new  conservation- 


In  honor  of 
G.ANDY  RUNGE 

(1930-1991) 


Andy  Runge  contributed  a  lifetime  of  effort  to  the  field  of  conservation. 
The  following  are  a  few  of  the  highlights  of  the  life  of  one  of  the  greatest 
conservationists  in  Missouri's  history. 

1970-  73-  President  ofthe  Missouri  Prairie  Foundation 

1973-  79-  Missouri  Conservation  Commissioner 

1978-  Conservationist  of  the  Year  by  Conservation  Federation  of  Missouri 

1982-  83-  President  ofthe  Missouri  Prairie  Foundation 

1986  -  88-  President  of  Conservation  Federation  of  M  issouri 

1988-  Citizen  Volunteer  Conservation  Award  by  Chevron  U.SAJnc. 

1989-  Member,  University  of  Missouri  System  Board  of  Curators 


You  can  see 

a  timber  rattlesnake,  track  a  deer, 
listen  to  the  booming  sound  of  a 
prairie  chicken,  come  nose  to  nose 
with  a  giant  bullfrog, and  learn  how 
to  determine  the  age  of  a  fish  by 
one  of  its  scales. 


related  exhibit  on  display  in  the  nature  center  lobby. 

The  lobby  leads  to  a  3,000  square-foot  exhibit  space. 
Here  you  can  learn  about  a  wide  variety  of  natural  habi- 
tats in  Missouri  and  how  the  Missouri  Department  of 
Conservation  manages  them  for  forest,  fish  and  wildlife 
resources.  You  might  see  a  timber  rattlesnake,  track  a 
deer,  listen  to  the  booming  sound  of  a  prairie  chicken, 
come  nose  to  nose  with  a  giant  bullfrog,  and  learn  how  to 
determine  the  age  of  a  fish  by  one  of  its  scales. 

Youradventurethroughtheexhibitsculminateswitha 
full  view  of  a  3,580-gallon  freshwater  fish  aquarium  that 
contains  some  of  Missouri's  freshwater  fish  species. 
Inhabitants  of  the  aquarium  include  largemouth  bass, 
channel  catfish  and  some  huge  crappie  and  sunfish. 

Across  from  the  aquarium  is  the  "Critter  Corner."  It 
features  a  living  beehive,  live  animals,  a  puppet  theatre,  a 
magnetic  wall  and  other  hands-on  activities  for  children. 

At  the  wildlife  viewing  area  you  can  enjoy  the  sights 
and  sounds  of  squirrels,  chipmunks,  deer,  chickadees  and 
other  wildlife  in  their  natural  habitat.  Native  Missouri 
plants  and  various  feeders  attract  wildlife.  There's  also 
a  mini-stream  that  winds  through  the  area  and  is  fed 
by  runoff  from  the  roof,  which  is  covered  with  wooden 
shingles. 

Other  features  inside  the  nature  center  building 
include  a  gift  shop  stocked  with  a  wide  selection  of 
books,  videos  and  nature- related  items,  a  nature  library 
with  books  for  children  and  adults,  a  200-seat  auditorium 
and  three  classrooms. 

Outside  are  five  nature  trails.  Walk  amid  indigo 
buntings  and  a  variety  of  butterflies  as  you  venture  down 
Raccoon  Run.  This  trail  is  the  longest  of  the  five  and 
winds  past  savanna,  prairie,  marsh  and  woodland  habi- 
tats. You  can  enjoy  a  grand  vista  of  the  entire  Runge  area 
atop  a  fire  tower  located  near  the  beginning  of  the  trail. 

Bluestem  Ridge  is  a  trail  of  intermediate  length  and 
difficulty.  It  winds  along  the  edge  of  the  prairie  and  then 
dives  into  a  woodland  habitat.  In  spring,  a  trip  along 
Bluestem  Ridge  will  likely  reward  you  with  the  resonant 


18  Missouri  Conservationist 


The  paved  Naturescape Trail  (above)  allows  all  visitors  to  see  a  wildflower  meadow  and  a  garden  pond.  Natural  habitats,  including 
a  glade  (upper  left),  are  scattered  through  the  area.  Fish-feeding  time  at  the  Runge  aquarium  (upper  right)  is  always  exciting. 


May  2004  19 


More 

CAPITAL  IDEAS 


©  Runge  Conservation 

Nature  Center  ©O 

*  © 

© 


O  Powder  Valley  Conservation  Nature  Center  is  in  a  quiet  cor- 
ner of  a  busy  city.  Leave  the  chaos  of  the  urban  world  and  escape  to  the 
112-acre  nature  center  located  in  Kirkwood. 

©  August  A.  Busch  Memorial  Conservation  Area  offers  6,987 
acres  of  important  habitat  for  fish  and  wildlife  in  a  rapidly  developing 
area  near  St.  Louis. The  area  also  offers  plenty  of  hunting  and  fishing 
opportunities. 

©  Rockwoods  Reservation  is  a  1,843-acre  state  forest  and 
wildlife  oasis  in  western  St.  Louis  County.  Established  in  1938,  it  is  one  of 
the  oldest  Conservation  Department  areas.  It  is  known  for  introducing 
many  youngsters  to  the  basic  concepts  of  conservation. 

0  Shepherd  of  the  Hills  Fish  Hatchery  Conservation  Center, 
in  Branson,  is  one  of  M  issouri's  most  popular  attractions.  Visitors  can  see 
giant  brown  and  rainbow  trout,  hike  four  trails  and  fish  for  trout  in  the 
Table  Rock  Lake  tailwaters. 

©  Springfield  Conservation  Nature  Center  offers  the  peace  and 
quiet  of  an  Ozark  forest  amid  the  hectic  pace  of  the  city.  Here,  the  sounds 
of  traffic  and  smells  of  asphalt  yield  to  bird  calls  and  the  earthy  fragrance 
of  damp  leaves. 

©  Burr  Oak  Woods  Conservation  Nature  Center  is  nestled  in 
the  center  of  1,100  acres  of  forest,  glade,  prairie,  ponds,  open  fields, 
creeks  and  savannas.  Burr  Oak  Woods  Conservation  Nature  Genter  is 
located  in  Blue  Springs. 

©  Lost  Valley  Visitor  Center  is  at  the  Lost  Valley  Fish  Hatchery  at 
Warsaw.The  center  contains  a  number  of  exhibits,  a  12,700-gallon 
aquarium,  a  kids  fishing  pond,  and  a  close-up  view  of  a  state-of-the-art 
fish  hatchery. 


sounds  of  spri  ng  peepers  and  chorus  frogs  as  they  try  to 
attract  mates. 

Moss  Rock  Trace  will  calm  your  anxieties  with  its 
shady  feel  and  the  sounds  of  water  trickling  through  a 
wet-weather  stream.  Look  for  bluebells,  spicebush  and 
pawpaw  trees  as  you  cross  the  180-foot  boardwalk.  Con- 
tinue through  a  small  glade,  which  is  home  to  numerous 
wildflowers,  including  Indian  paintbrush,  coreopsis, 
coneflowers  and  blazing  stars. 

Stepping  onto  Towering  Oak  Trail  brings  a  sense  of 
timelessness  as  you  discover  200- year-old  white  oak 
trees.  On  your  Towering  Oak  venture  you  will  cross  sev- 
eral wooden  bridges  and  trek  under  a  canopy  of  oak, 
hickory,  walnut  and  other  spectacular  trees  of  M  issouri. 

Along  the  Naturescape  Trail  you  will  find  several 
examples  of  backyard  wildlife  habitat,  such  as  a  decked 
area  with  planters,  a  rock  garden,  a  wildflower  meadow 
and  a  garden  pond.  This  trail  is  the  shortest  and  easiest 
trail  and  is  accessible  to  people  in  wheelchairs. 

In  addition  to  the  building,  facilities,  exhibits  and 
trails,  Runge  Nature  Center  also  offers  a  variety  of  special 
events  and  activities  for  people  of  all  ages.  The  staff  often 
travels  to  community  events  and  sets  up  activities  for 
children,  as  well  as  educational  exhibits  for  all  ages. 
Teachers  and  civic  leaders  can  contact  the  nature  center 
to  schedule  interpretive  programs  for  their  groups.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  and  winter,  nature  center  programs 
travel  to  schools  or  other  locations  for  people  who  are 
unable  to  visit  the  center.  Special  general  public  pro- 
grams are  scheduled  continually  throughout  the  year. 

Since  its  grand  opening  on  July  10, 1993,  Runge  Con- 
servation Nature  Center  staff  have  worked  hard  to  find 
new  and  innovative  ways  to  connect  Missourians  with 
the  outdoors. 

Interpretive  programs  such  as  Frog  Frenzy,  AcroBats, 
and  Reptile  Rap  help  children  have  fun  as  they  develop  a 
healthy  understanding  of  Missouri's  natural  resources. 
Special  events  such  as  Naturescape  Symposium,  Eagle 
Days,  and  Haunted  Habitats  provide  exciting  adventures 
for  people  of  all  ages.  General  public  programs  focus  on 
everything  from  otters,  to  deer  processing  and  fly-fishing, 
tonaturequiltingand  hiking.Theyareavailablethrough- 
out  the  year. 

Runge  Conservation  Nature  Center  is  located  on  High- 
way 179  just  minutes  from  the  Missouri  State  Capitol.  The 
Nature  Center  is  open  Monday  through  Saturday  from  8 
a.m.  to  5  p.m.,  and  Sundays  from  noon  to  5  p.m.  The  area  is 
closed  on  Thanksgiving,  Christmas  and  New  Year's  days. 

When  you  are  in  Jefferson  City,  make  it  a  point  to  come 
and  enjoy  time  at  Runge.  It's  a  CAPITAL  idea!  A 


20  Missouri  Conservationist 


A  teen-age  volunteer  helps  Conservation  Kids  Club  members  collect  insects  for  study  (upper  left).  Kids  inside  an  air-filled  bubble 
experience  a  "fishy"environment  (above).The  view  is  always  terrific  from  the  Runge  Conservation  Nature  Center's  fire  tower. 


May  2004  21 


A  dog  born  to  hunt  must 
still  be  molded  into  a  hunter. 

In  a  stand  of  flooded  hardwood  timber,  on  opening  day 
of  duck  season,  a  hunter  waits.  At  his  side,  sitting  on  a 
portable  tree  stand  lashed  to  a  pin  oak,  a  chocolate  Lab 
scans  a  pewter  sky.  Suddenly,  the  dog  perks  his  ears  and 
sits  erect.  The  hunter  reads  this  signal  and  spies  a  lone 
drake  wood  duck,  wings  cupped,  sailing  between  the  trees. 

With  the  woody  at  30  yards  and  closing,  the  hunter  shoots 
and  the  duck  tumbles.  The  Lab  leans  forward,  his  attention 
locked  on  the  downed  duck. 


1 

'Jp 

I '  ''• 

/! 


By  Mark  Goodwin,  Photos  by  Cliff  White 


22  MissoM  Dnservationi 


)T1 


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!-Ji 


K*x  iff -***-' 


& 


24  Missouri  Conservationist 


"Back!'- 


Fthe  hunter  commands, 
and  the  Lab  leaps  into 
the  water.  With  chin  flat 
against  the  surface,  the  retriever  swims  hard  to  the  bird. 
As  he  picks  up  the  duck  and  turns  back  to  the  hunter,  a 
half  dozen  green-winged  teal  buzz  past,  just  over  the 
treetops.  The  hunter  drops  one.  The  Lab  pauses  to  mark 
where  the  teal  fell,  then  quickly  returns  the  wood  duck 
to  his  master. 

The  hunter  grabs  the  Lab  by  the  back  of  its  collar  and 
pulls  the  dripping  dog  back  up  on  the  tree  stand.  He 
gives  the  dog  a  congratulatory  pat  on  its  shoulders,  takes 
the  bird  and  praises  the  dog. 

Taking  little  notice,  the  Lab  sits  and  leans  forward  in 
anticipation  of  retrieving  the  teal. 

"You  like  your  job,  don't  you?"  the  hunter  asks  with  a 
smile,  and  then  barks  the  command,  "Back!"The  Lab  hits 
the  water  with  a  splash  and  cuts  a  wake  to  the  second  bird. 

This  is  work  from  a  well-trained  gun  dog— both  excit- 
ing and  practical.  For  many  hunters,  a  gun  dog  is  an 
important  and  enduring  investment;  onethat  should  not 
be  made  lightly.  If  you  have  been  thinking  about  buying  a 
gun  dog,  here  are  a  few  things  to  consider. 

Your  Disposition 

The  first  question  you  should  ask  is  not  whether  a  dog  is 
right  for  you,  but  whether  you  are  right  for  a  dog.  Are 
you  patient,  or  do  you  have  a  short  temper?  Are  you  dis- 
ciplined concerning  routines,  or  do  you  tend  to  quit 
when  routines  grow  old?  Do  you  accept  responsibility  for 
your  mistakes,  or  are  you  prone  to  place  blame  else- 
where? Honest  answers  to  these  questions  will  reveal 
whether  owning  a  gun  dog  is  right  for  you. 

Gun  dogs  achieve  their  greatest  performance  through 
effective  training  programs  carried  out  by  patient  han- 
dlers. Patience  is  central  to  the  training  process.  When  a 
lesson  is  new,  dogs  may  have  trouble  understanding 
what  response  an  owner  wants.  Even  trained  dogs  will 
try  to  disobey  commands.  No  matter  how  frustrated  you 
get  at  such  times,  it's  crucial  to  be  patient  and  thought- 
ful in  correcting  them.  Impatience,  leading  to  anger,  is 
counterproductive  to  dog  training. 

It's  important  to  realize  that  routines  are  a  primary 
part  of  owning  a  well-trained  gun  dog.  Dogs  learn  through 
consistent  repetition.  Some  people  enjoy  routines;  others 
quickly  grow  bored  with  them.  If  you  don't  like  routines, 
then  owning  a  gun  dog  could  prove  frustrating. 

When  a  dog  makes  a  mistake,  most  of  the  time  it's  the 
owner's  fault.  Dog  mistakes  reflect  mistakes  in  training  and 
handling.  If  you  tend  to  blamethedog  instead  of  yourself, 
you  probably  aren't  ever  going  to  own  a  great  hunting  dog. 


Prospecting 

If  you  have  the  personal  qualities  necessary  to  own  and 
train  a  gun  dog,  then  the  next  step  is  finding  the  right 
dog.  Research  hunting  dog  breeds  to  find  the  one  with 
the  traits  and  qualities  you  desire,  but  don't  buy  on  breed 
alone.  Many  dogs  simply  don't  have  the  inherent  ability 
to  develop  into  skilled  hunters.  Some  possess  hunting 


mM 


wsssem      M^&w 


A  dog's  hunting  ability  depends  on  its  genetics.  Research  a 
pup's  bloodlines  before  committing  to  it.  Keep  your  dog  in  top 
hunting  form  with  year-round  training  at  a  local  pond  or  lake 
(opposite)  or  in  the  field  with  retrieving  dummies  (above). 


May  2004  25 


characteristics  that  don't  match  sportsmen's  needs.  For 
example,  some  dogs  are  known  for  hunting  close  and 
methodically,  while  others  are  known  for  ranging  far  and 
charging  hard.  You  need  experience  and  knowledge  to 
pick  a  good  dog 

On  a  quail  hunt,  for  example,  the  close-hunting  per- 
formance of  your  friend's  Brittany  spaniel  might  impress 
you  to  the  point  that  you  decide  you  want  just  such  a 
dog.  M  any  hunters  might  look  in  the  newspaper,  find 
someone  selling  Brittany  pups,  visit  the  owner,  take  a 
fancy  to  one  of  the  pups  and  take  it  home  the  same  day. 
As  likely  as  not,  the  dog's  hunting  abilities  will  be  disap- 
pointing. 

All  Brittany  spaniels  do  not  hunt  close.  Some  are  bred 
to  compete  in  field  trials.  These  dogs  range  far  in  quest 
of  game.  The  Brittany  might  even  have  come  from  show 
stock  parents  with  little  hunting  instinct.  Such  a  Brit 
may  look  nice,  but  it  might  not  hunt  a  lick. 

Only  buy  a  pup  out  of  parents  that  are  skilled  hunters. 
If  both  parents  are  ski  I  led  hunters,  chances  are  their 
pups  will  have  what  it  takes  to  develop  into  good  gun 
dogs.  Genetics  determine  a  pup's  potential. 

If  both  are  available,  ask  to  seethe  parents  work  in  the 
field.  If  only  the  mother  is  available,  which  is  often  the 
case,  she  may  be  worn  down  from  the  rigors  of  feeding  and 
caring  for  her  litter  and  not  up  for  a  good  showing.  If  so, 
and  if  she  has  had  other  litters,  ask  for  the  names  of  people 


Hunting  dogs  live  for  the  thrill  of  finding  and  retrieving  game. 


who  own  pups  from  one  of  her  previous  litters.  The  success 
of  these  pups,  if  si  red  by  the  same  dog,  wi  1 1  reflect  the  cur- 
rent litter's  potential. 

Ask  about  the  parents'  temperament,  intelligence  and 
hunting  desire.  How  easy  were  they  to  train?  How  far  do 
the  parents  range  when  hunting?  Are  they  naturally  soft- 
mouthed  when  handling  game?  Are  the  hips  of  both  par- 
ents OFA  (Orthopedic  Foundation  for  Animals)  certi- 
fied? M  any  gun  dogs,  especially  larger  breeds,  suffer  from 
hip  dysplasia,  a  crippling  disorder.  Don't  be  afraid  to  ask 
questions.  Pups  from  quality  parents  often  run  $500  or 
more.  For  that  price,  you  should  get  quality. 

Take  the  pup  home  when  it's  seven  to  eight  weeks  old. 
Taking  the  pup  home  sooner  will  prevent  the  pup  from 
developing  proper  canine  social  skills.  Taking  the  pup  home 
later  will  increase  the  likelihood  that  the  pup  will  have 
developed  a  submissive  or  a  dominant  position  in  the  litter. 
Both  personalitytypes  are  undesirable.  A  submissive  pup 
will  have  difficulty  handling  the  pressure  of  training.  A 
dominant  pup  will  often  be  rebellious  and  stubborn. 

Also  never  buy  a  pup  that  has  spent  months  on  end  in 
the  kennel  with  minimal  human  contact  and  no  oppor- 
tunity to  explore  new  surroundings.  Pups  raised  under 
these  conditions  are  almost  always  nervous.  They  are 
tentative  and  often  scared  of  any  new  situation.  Seldom 
do  they  develop  into  good  gun  dogs. 
You  can  forego  these  potential  problems  by  buying 
a  mature  gun  dog  that  is  already 
trained.  All  you  have  to  do  is  reach 
deep  into  your  billfold.  Prices 
for  trained  dogs  start  at  about 
$1,500  and  go  much  higher,  depend- 
ing on  a  dog's  pedigree  and  level  of 
training. 

Training 

Transforming  a  quality  pup  into  a 
dependable  hunting  dog  requires 
months  of  training.  If  you  haven't  the 
time  nor  inclination  to  do  it  yourself, 
you  can  hire  a  trainer  to  do  it  for 
you.  Fees  for  training  a  gun  dog 
range  up  to  $800  a  month.  A  skilled 
trainer,  working  a  dog  of  normal 
ability,  may  turn  out  a  pup,  ready  to 
hunt,  in  four  to  eight  months. 

If  your  pup  begins  training  at 
three  to  four  months  old,  it  may  be  a 
competent  hunting  companion  by  its 
first  birthday.  Even  after  a  careful 
training  program,  most  gun  dogs 


26  Missouri  Conservationist 


miMwmmi 

■-■  ■■■#  /  wmiWmM'S-  ^m 

A  well-trained  gun  dog  is  a  valuable  partner  that  enriches  the  hunting  experience. 


don't  really  blossom  until  they  have  two  or  three  hunting 
seasons  behind  them,  and  only  then  if  they've  spent  a  lot 
of  time  hunting. 

Though  training  a  gun  dog  takes  time,  the  time  it 
takes  each  day  to  train  is  actually  very  little.  Fifteen  to  20 
minutes  a  day  represents  a  solid  training  session  for  an 
adult  dog.  Puppies  have  shorter  attention  spans.  A  good 
training  session  for  a  pup  may  be  five  minutes  or  less. 
The  key  is  being  consistent  with  commands  and  pursu- 
ing an  effective  training  plan. 

Regardless  of  its  training,  every  dog  will  try  its  owner. 
If  allowed  to  disobey  a  command,  a  trained  gun  dog  will 
quickly  "forget"  what  it  has  been  conditioned  to  do.  A 
gun  dog  owner  must  know  how  to  enforce  commands. 
Every  hunting  trip  is  a  training  session  in  which  a  dog 
must  respond  to  a  learned  command.  If  the  dog 
responds  incorrectly,  the  dog  must  be  corrected.  Disobe- 
dience, if  allowed,  will  ruin  a  trained  dog  in  short  order. 

Keeping  a  dog  sharp  requires  year-round  training.  M  any 
trainers  keep  live  birds  with  which  to  train  their  dogs.  Gun 
dog  enthusiasts  don't  consider  the  extra  work  an  i nconve- 
nience.  For  them,  watching  a  well-trained  gun  dog  work  is 
as  much  a  part  of  the  hunt  as  the  whistling  wings  of  water- 
fowl and  the  cackling  flush  of  a  pheasant.  ▲ 


Learning  More 


Gaining  specific  knowledge  concerning  gun  dog 
training  involves  reading  and  research.  A  number 
of  excellent  books  are  available.  Best  Way  to  Train 
YourGun  Dog:The  Del  mar  Smith  Method, by  the  late 
Bill  Tarrant,  is  an  excellent  general  reference  on 
training  gun  dogs,  as  is  Gun  Dog,  by  Richard 
Wolters.Tarrant  wrote  two  books  for  learning  how 
to  train  retrievers.  Hey  Pup,  Fetch  It  UplThe  Complete 
RetrieverTraining  Book  and  Training  the  Versatile 
Retriever  to  Hunt  Upland  Birds  are  both  excellent 
sources  of  information. 

The  Internet  is  a  great  source  for  gun  dog 
training  and  handling  tips.Type  in  "training  gun 
dogs,"hit"search"and  you'll  find  thousands  of  how- 
to  listings. You  will  also  find  listings  of  pro  trainers 
who  will  e-mail  answers  to  your  questions.  It's 
exciting  to  get  direct  responses  from  some  of  the 
world's  top  breeders  and  handlers  of  gun  dogs.Type 
in  "literature  training  gun  dogs"for  complete  listings 
of  books  and  periodicals. 


May  2004  27 


Trapping  regulations  change 

Missourianswho  hunt  or  trap  furbearers  should  know  about  several  regulation  changes  effective  this  year. 
They  include: 

▲  Bobcat  seasons  will  be  open  statewide. 

▲  Furbearer  hunting  and  trapping  seasons  will  run  from  Nov.  15  through  Feb.  15  for  striped  skunk,  raccoon, 
opossum,  badger,  red  fox,  gray  fox,  coyote,  bobcat,  muskrat,  mink  and  river  otter.  Exceptions  are  otter  and 
muskrat  trapping,  which  remain  open  through  Feb.  20  in  Otter  Trapping  Zone  E,and  beaver  trapping, 
which  runs  through  March  31. 

▲  Otter  Management  Zone  E  has  been  enlarged  to  include  thej ames  River  Basin  in  southwestern  Missouri. 

▲  Pelts  may  be  possessed  and  sold  by  the  taker  from  November  15  through  March  1. 

▲  Furbearers  may  be  taken  by  trapping  through  the  use  of  cable  restraints  Dec.  15  through  Feb.  15  by  hold- 
ers of  a  Cable  Restraint  Permit  ($25).  Before  purchasing  the  permit,  trappers  must  complete  an  approved 
cable  restraint  training  course.  For  information  about  course  availability,  contact  the  nearest  Conservation 
Department  regional  service  center  after  May  15. 

▲  Colony  traps  with  openings  no  greater  than  6  inches  high  and  6  inches  wide  set  underwater  will  be  legal 
fortaking  muskrats. 

▲  Killing-type  (Conibear-type)  traps  set  underwater  and  colony  traps  set  underwater  must  be  attended 
and  wildlife  removed  at  least  once  every  48  hours. 

a  Foot-enclosing-type  traps  as  well  as  cage-type  traps  now  may  be  set  within  150  feet  of  any  resident  or 
occupied  building  in  towns  of  10,000  or  more  inhabitants. 

a  Traps  may  be  used  in  conjunction  with  electronic  calls.  Electronic  calls  may  be  used  to  pursue  and  take 
crows  and  furbearers  during  daylight  and  at  night,  but  without  the  aid  of  an  artificial  light  or  night- 
vision  equipment. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DELEGATION  SUPPORTS  WILDLIFE 

Sen.  Kit  Bond  received  special  recognition  from  theTeaming  with 
Wildlife  Coalition  in  March  for  his  staunch  support  of  the  federal 
State  Wildlife  Grant  (SWG)  program. 

Besides  backing  the  program  from  the  start,  Bond  recently  went 
on  record  in  favor  of  a  $100  million  appropriation  for  the  program  in 
Fiscal  Year  2005.  M  issouri  receives  a  share  of  each  year's  SWG  fund- 
ing.The  program  helps  states  ensure  that  troubled  wildlife  species 
don't  become  endangered.  Other  members  of  M issouri's  congres- 
sional delegation  who  support  funding  at  the  $100  million  level 
include  Sen.Jim  Talent  and  representatives  William  Lacy  Clay,  Karen 
McCarthy,  Kenny  Hulshof,  Ike  Skelton  and  Dick  Gephardt. 


II MBERDOODLERS  UNITE 

A  group  of  dedicated  woodcock  hunters  formed  a 
conservation  organization  focusing  exclusively  on 
woodcock,  also  known  as"timberdoodles"or"bog- 
suckers.'The  number  of  these  migratory  birds  has 
dwindled  in  recent  years  for  unknown  reasons. 

Woodcock  Limited's  goal  is  to  work  with  local, 
private,  state  and  federal  organizations  to  stabilize 
and  increase  woodcock  populations  through 
research  and  habitat  and  harvest  management. 

One  of  the  group's  goals  is  to  achieve  a  voluntary 
limit  on  woodcock  harvests,  an  idea  borrowed  from 
waterfowl  conservation  groups.  Besides  being  a 
game  species,  woodcocks  are  beloved  by  birdwatch- 
ers for  their  spectacular  aerial  mating  display,  which 
occurs  in  late  winter  and  early  spring.  Information 
about  Woodcock  Limited  is  available  from 
<fjezioro@msn.com>  or  online  at 
<www.woodcocklimited.org>. 


F^.*$ 

M 

f 

1 

Take-a-kid  fishing 

charity  tournament  is  May  8 

The  12th  Annual  Take  A  Kid  Fishing  Tournament  will 
be  held  May  8  at  Table  Rock  Lake's  Port  of  Kimber- 
ling  Marina.  Proceeds  will  benefit  the  Make- A- Wish 
Foundation. 

The  winning  adult/youth  team  will  receive 
$1,000. The  Lost  Creek  Bass  Club  will  award  addi- 
tional cash  prizes  for  every  20  boats  in  the  tourna- 
ment. A  drawing  for  a  Harley-Davidson  Buell  Blaster 
will  follow  the  weigh-in. The  entry  fee  is  $50  per 
boat.Tournament  headquarters  is  the  Kimberling 
Inn  in  Kimberling  City.  For  entry  forms  or  other  tour- 
nament information,  call  417/887-1640.  For  special 
tournament  rates  on  lodging,  call  800/883-5551. 


28  Missouri  Conservationist 


■      WELCOMI      "_ 

TD  THE 


RONALD  J.  ST1TES 

WETLAND  UNIT 

K  THE  HOWttW  WLLEY 


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MI55C-JHI  CdNSEqVOTIQN  KFAHT 


■            ■ 

JMjCTJ^H 

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AWV  H£HZQ£ 

Wm/m 

Wetlands  named  for  former  commissioners 

Former  Conservation  commissioners  Ronald  J .  Stites  of  Plattsburg,  and  Randy 
Herzog  of  St.  J  oseph  were  honored  recently  with  the  dedication  of  wetland  units 
at  Nodaway  Valley  Conservation  Area  in  northwest  Missouri. The  commissioners 
are  shown  here  with  their  wives,  Mary  Herzog  and  Emily  Fowler. 

GYPSY  MOTH  TRAPPING  RESUMES 

Starting  this  month,  forestry  officials 
with  the  Missouri  Department  of  Con- 
servation will  hang  triangular  orange 
cardboard  traps  on  trees  throughout 
the  state. They  are  trying  to  catch 
gypsy  moths,  the  winged  pests  that 
have  devastated  forests  in  the  eastern 
and  north-central  United  States. 
The  gypsy  moth  is  slowly  extending 
its  range  west  and  south,  with  populations  increasing  in  Wisconsin,  northeastern 
Illinois  and  northern  Indiana.  Gypsy  moths  can  colonize  new  areas  by  laying  eggs 
on  motor  homes  or  other  vehicles  and  equipment  used  by  interstate  travelers. To 
prevent  a  leapfrog  infestation  from  getting  out  of  hand  in  M  issouri,  agriculture  and 
forestry  officials  set  out  traps  baited  with  female  moth  pheromones.The  discovery 
of  gypsy  moths  in  an  area  warns  of  a  developing  infestation. 

Foresters  will  monitor  the  traps  through  August.  If  you  see  a  trap,  please  leave 
it  in  place. These  traps  are  our  first  line  of  defense  against  these  destructive  pests. 
If  you  have  questions  or  concerns  about  gypsy  moth  traps,  call  573/751-5505 
or  573/882-9909,  ext.  3303,  or  e-mail  <michael.brown@mda.mo.gov>  or 
<foresthealth@mdc.mo.gov> . 


Catch  Lewis  &  Clark  fever  this  month 

The  celebration  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition's  passage  through  M  issouri 
starts  this  month  and  continues  into  J  uly,  with  events  large  and  small  from  St. 
Louis  to  the  Iowa  border.  Lewis  and  Clark  events  are  scheduled  for: 

a  May  14-23  in  St.  Charles  (Call  636-946-7776  for  more  information.) 

a  May  22-26  in  Washington,  Mo.  (636/239-2715,  ext.  102) 

a  May  22  in  Hermann  (800/932-8687) 

a  May  26  and  27  in  New  Haven  (573/237-3830) 

a  May  28-30  at  the  Missouri  National  Guard  Ike  Skelton  Training  Site, 
Jefferson  City  (800/726-8852) 

a  June  1-3  in  Jefferson  City  (573/634-6482) 

a  J  une  4-6  at  Franklin  Island  Conservation  Area  (800/726-8852) 

a  J  une  5  at  Cooper's  Landing,  Easley  (573/657-2544, 
<www.cooperslanding.net>) 

a  j  une  4-14  in  Boonville  (660/882-2721  or  660/  882-7977) 

a  J  une  1-30  at  Arrow  Rock  State  Park,  featuring  an  exhibit  focusing  on 
wildlife  and  the  Corps  of  Discovery.  (660-837-3330, 
<www.mostateparks.com/arrowrock.htm>) 

a  J  une  9- 12  in  Glasgow  (660/338-2576) 

Ajune  12-13  in  Brunswick (660/548-9771) 

^  J  une  16  in  Waverly  (660/493-2314) 

a  J  une  23  at  Fort  Osage  in  Sibley  (816-650-5737, 
<www.historicfortosage.com>) 

Ajune  26-27  in  Weston  (888/635-7457) 

▲  J  uly  3-4  in  Kansas  City  (800/858- 1749,  <  www.journey4th.org> ) 

a  J  uly  4  at  Lewis  &  Clark  State  Park,  Rushville  (816/579-5564) 

Ajuly5-ll  in  St.joseph  (800/604-4600) 

An  excellent  source  of  information  about  Lewis  and  Clark  bicentennial  events 
in  Missouri  is  <www.lewisandclark.net.> 


May  2004  29 


Accessibility  information  is  just  a  click  away 

Would  you  like  to  find  a  wheelchair-accessible  fishing  dock  or  boat  ramp  on  a  lake  or  stream  near  home? 
How  about  a  waterfowl  hunting  blind  that  is  manageable  for  a  physically  challenged  youth,  or  a  fully  acces- 
sible nature  center? 

Locating  such  facilities  is  as  simple  as  going  online  and  visiting  <  www.missouriconservation.org/ 
accessibility^  .There  you  can  search  for  different  facility  types  in  a  comprehensive  database  of  hundreds  of 
conservation  areas  by  region  or  county.  Access  to  accessibility  has  never  been  easier. 

One  example  of  a  highly  accessible  spot  is  Lake  J  acomo  south  of  Blue  Springs  in  J  ackson  Gounty.This  970- 
acre  area  has  camping,  fishing,  hiking  trails,  picnicking,  parking,  an  education  center  and  an  archery  range 
accessible  to  wheelchair  users.  For  more  information,  call  816/655-6254  or  816/795-8200. 


On  your  mark!  Set!  Drift! 

If  you  spend  time  on  the  Missouri  River  downstream  from  the  Chariton  County  community  of  Brunswick, 
watch  for  yellow  dugout  canoes.  Look  sharply,  though;  the  boats  are  only  14  inches  long. 

The  boats,  carved  from  untreated  landscape  timbers,  are  contestants  in  an  innovative  education  project 
sponsored  by  the  River  Valley  Development  Gommittee.  To  motivate  the  students  to  learn  more  about  the 

river's  recreational  and  economic  value,  the  non- 
profit group  gave  a  bright  yellow  dugout  to  each  of 
124  school  classes  in  30  communities,  from 
Brunswick  down  to  Augusta  in  St.  Charles  County.  In 
all,  more  than  2,600  students  are  involved.  Each  class 
decorated  its  boat  and  placed  a  message  in  a  35-mm 
film  canister  in  a  special  compartment  in  the  stern. 
Tlie  boats  were  launched  en  masse  April  24  at 
Brunswick.  Carried  along  by  the  river's  3-  to  4-mph 
current,  the  boats  could  make  the  184-  mile  journey 
to  Augusta  in  as  little  as  two  days. The  group's  vol- 
unteers were  waiting  at  Augusta  to  spot  the  winner 
of  the  "race." 

If  you  see  a  dugout  bobbing  toward  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  pick  it  up  and  use  the  note  in  the  film  canis- 
ter to  contact  its  student  ow ners  to  let  them  know 
how  far  their  boat  traveled. 


MAY:  the  month  for  shady  places 

May  is  the  month  of  frilly  forest  blossoms.  If  you 
have  a  shady  place  on  your  property,  you  can 
mimic  a  forest  garden  with  a  Grow  Native!  Shady 
Haven  design. 

The  Shady  Haven  design  includes  small  trees 
and  shrubs,  such  as  Eastern  redbud  and  Indian 
cherry,  that  provide  food  and  cover  for  wildlife. 
These  plants  are  suitable  for  partial  or  high  shade 
areas  that  allow  some  light  to  filter  through.  Bright, 
delicate  species  such  as  sweet  William,  Solomon's 
seal  and  woodland  spiderwort  create  a  serene 
atmosphere  for  you  and  a  natural  habitat  for  birds, 
butterflies  and  small  wildlife.  Add  a  bench  for  relax- 
ing in  your  cool  refuge. 

Plants  on  the  Shady  Haven  design  include: 

j**  Wild  sweet  William 

jt*  Woodland  spiderwort 

jt*  Wild  ginger 

jr*Gelandine  poppy 

j*P  Solomon's  seal 

j**  Wafer  ash 

j&  Wild  hydrangea 

jt*  Eastern  redbud 

j*P  Indian  cherry 
For  more  information  about  the  Shady  Haven 
design  and  landscaping  with  Missouri's  native 
plants,  visit  the  Grow  Native!  web  site  at 
<www.grownative.org>,  or  write  for  a  home 
landscaping  guide  from  Grow  Native!  P.O.  Box  180, 
J efferson  City,  MO 65102. -  Bonnie Chasteen 


30  Missouri  Conservationist 


FOR  EVERY  ACTION 


mam 


Together,  we  can  keep  Missouri  thriving.  To  find  out  how,  visit  online  at: 

missouriconservation.org 


Outdoor  Calendar 


HUNTING 


OPEN 


CLOSE 


Coyotes 

5/10/04 

3/31/05 

Crow 

11/1/04 

3/3/05 

Deer,  Archery 
Deer,  Firearms 

to  be  announced 
11/13/04 
(permits  and  regulations  available  ir 

to  be  announced 
the  summer) 

Groundhog 

5/10/04 

12/15/04 

Squirrels 

5/22/04 

2/15/05 

Rabbits 

10/1/04 

2/15/05 

Turkey  (spring) 

4/19/04 

5/9/04 

FISHING 

Black  Bass  (most  southern  streams)       5/22/04 

2/28/05 

Trout  Parks 

3/1/04 

10/31/04 

Bullfrog  &  Green  Frog 

Sunset  6/30/04 

Midnight  10/31/04 

Nongame  Fish  Snagging 

3/15/04 

5/15/04 

For  complete  information  about  seasons,  limits,  methods  and  restric- 
tions, consult  the  Wildlife  Code  and  the  current  summaries  of  M  issouri 
Hunting  and  Trapping  Regulations  and  M  issouri  Fishing  Regulations,  the  Fall 
Deer  and  Turkey  Hunting  Information,  Waterfowl  Hunting  Digest  and  the 
M  igratory  Bird  Digest.  To  find  this  information  on  our  Web  site  go  to 
<http://www.missouriconservation.org/regs/>. 

The  Conservation  Department's  computerized  point-of-sale  system  allows  you 
to  purchase  or  replace  your  permits  through  local  vendors  or  by  phone. The  toll- 
free  number  is  800/392-4115.  Allow  10  days  for  delivery  of  telephone  purchases. 
To  purchase  permits  online  go  to  <http://www.wildlifelicense.com/mo/>. 


Columbia  Bottom  open  house  set 

M  issourians  can  visit  the  new  education  and  visitor  center  at  Columbia  Bottom 
Conservation  Area  during  an  open  house  from  2  to  7  p.m.  May  27.  Other  features 
of  interest  include  outdoor  exploration  stations,  a  fishing  pier,  hiking  trails, 
boardwalk,  river  access,  wetland  areas  and  an  elevated  viewing  platform 
overlooking  the  confluence  of  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  rivers.  The  area  is 
at  801  Strodtman  Road  north  of  1-270  in  northern  St.  Louis  County.  For  more 
information,  call  636/441-4554. 


AGENT    N  OTEBOO  K 


a 


'The  wife  and  I  decided  not  to  build  this  year. 
We  found  ourselves  this  nice  little  fixer-upper  instead." 


Almost  every  weekend 

during  the  summer  I  find  myself  visit- 
ing with  various  people  on  Ozark 
streams.  Warm  weather  draws  a  lot  of 
M  issourians  to  our  waterways.  Some 
go  there  to  enjoy  a  leisurely  float.  Oth- 
ers like  to  fish,  camp  or  boat.  Most  of 
the  time,  everyone  gets  along  just 
fine.Occasionally,  however,  conflicts 
arise  between  people  who  only  want 
to  enjoy  the  river  in  their  own  way. 

Most  of  the  time,  the  conflict  is 
caused  by  someone  who  doesn't 

respect  the  rights  of  others.  I  hear  complaints  of  canoeists  floating  too  close  to 
anglers,  of  jet  boat  operators  blowing  by  canoeists,  and  of  people  who  feel  the 
outdoors  is  the  perfect  place  to  express  themselves  in  loud,  offensive  language. 

Applying  the  Golden  Rule  would  eliminate  many  of  the  conflicts  among  river 
users.  Missouri  isoffering  uswarm  summer  weather  with  beautiful  places  to 
enjoy  it.  Why  ruin  our  day  or  someone  else's  day  with  rude  behavior?  If  everyone 
respected  everyone     else's  right  to  outdoor  recreation,  we  could  all  enjoy  the 
wonderful  resources  Missouri  has  to  offer. 

Conservation  agents  are  often  asked  to  intervene  when  someone's  behavior 
crosses  the  line.  If  the  action  is  unintentional  and  not  the  result  of  meanness  or 
ill  will,  we'll  try  to  deal  with  it  with  a  friendly  reminder.  However,  if  a  violation  of 
state  statutes  or  regulations  occurs,  conservation  agents  will  issue  a  citation  or 
make  an  arrest.  Either  is  guaranteed  to  spoil  a  beautiful  day  for  the  perpetrator. 
-  DennisTwyman 


32  Missouri  Conservationist 


% 


Program  Schedule 

Television  the  way  Nature  intended! 


Broadcast  Stations 

Cape  Girardeau  UPN  "The  Beat"  WQTV  /  Sat.  8:30  a.m.,  Sundays  7  a.m. 

Columbia  KOM  U  (Ch  8  NBC )  /  Sundays  11  a.m. 

Hannibal  KHQA  (Ch  7  CBS)  /  Saturdays  11  a.m. 

Joplin  KOZJ  (Ch  26  PBS)  /  Saturdays  2  p.m. 

Kansas  City  KCPT  (Ch  19  PBS)  /  Sundays  7  a.m. 

Kirksville  KTVO  (Ch  3  ABC )  /  Saturdays  5  a.m. 

St.  Joseph  KQTV  (Ch  2  ABC )  /  Weekends,  check  local  listings  for  times 

St.  Louis  KSDK  (Ch  5  NBC )  /  Sundays,  4:30  a.m. 

Springfield  KOZK  (Ch  21  PBS)  /  Saturdays  2  p.m. 

Warrensburg  KM  OS  (Ch  6  PBS)  /  Sundays  6:30  p.m. 

Cable  and  Low  Power  Stations 

Branson  Vacation  Channel  /  Fri.,  Sat.  8  p.m. 

Brentwood  Brentwood  City  TV,  BTV-10  /Daily  4  a.m.  &  5  p.m. 

Cape  Girardeau  Charter  Cable  Ed.  Ch.  23  /  Thursdays  6  p.m. 

Chillicothe  Time  Warner  Cable  Channel  6  /  Thursdays  7  p.m. 

HillsboroJCTV/  Mondays  12  p.m.&  6  p.m. 

Independence  City  7  /  Thurs.  2  p.m.,  Sat.  10  a.m.  &  Sundays  8  p.m. 

Joplin  KGCS/ Sundays  6  p.m. 

Mexico  Mex-TV /  Fridays  6:30  p.m.,  Saturdays  6:30  p.m.  &  Sundays  6:30  p.m. 

Noel  TTV  /  Fridays  4:30  p.m. 

Of  allon  City  of  O'Fallon  Cable  /  Wednesdays  6:30  p.m. 

Parkville  City  of  Parkville  /  First  and  third  Tuesdays  of  the  month  6:30  p.m. 

Perryville  PVTV/ Mondays  6  p.m. 

Poplar  Bluff  City  Cable  Channel  2  /  Tuesdays  7:30  p.m.  and  Saturdays  10  a.m. 

Raymore  Govt.  Access-Channel  7/  Various,  check  local  listings  for  times 

Raytown  City  of  Raytown  Cable  /  Wed.  10  a.m.  &  Saturdays  8  p.m. 

St.  Charles  City  of  St.  Charles-Ch  20  /  Tues.  5  p.m.  and  Wed.  10  a.m. 

St.  Louis  Charter  Communications  /  Saturdays  10:30  a.m. 

St.  Louis  City  TV  10  /  Mondays  11:30  a.m.,  Wednesdays  3:30  p.m. 

St.  Louis  Cooperating  School  Districts/  Wednesdays  9  a.m. 

St.  Louis  DHTV-21  /  Mondays  10:30  a.m. 

St.  Louis  KPTN-LP/TV58  /  Thursdays  10  a.m. 

St.  Peters  City  of  St.  Peters  Cable  /  Various,  check  local  listings  for  times 

Ste.  Genevieve  PublicTV  /  Fridays  1  p.m.,  6  p.m.  &  12  midnight 

Springfield  KBLE36  /  5  times  a  week,  check  local  listings  for  times 

Sullivan  Fidelity  Cable-Channel  6  /  Wed.  11  a.m.  and  Fri.  7  p.m. 

Union  TRC-TV7  /  Tuesdays  3  p.m. 

West  Plains OCTV/  Mondays  6:30  p.m. 


eet  our  Contributors 

Marvin  Boyer  is  a  fisheries  management  biologist  in 
the  Conservation  Department's  St.  Louis  Region.  He 
grew  up  in  rural  Jefferson  Gounty,  and  hunting  and 
fishing  have  always  been  his  favorite  pastimes.  He 
said  spending  time  in  the  outdoors  with  their  three 
children  is  providing  a  lifetime  of  enjoyment  for  him 
and  his  wife, Jennifer. 


Kathy  Cavender  is  the  manager  of  Runge  Conserva- 
tion Nature  Center.  She  was  born  and  raised  in  West- 
phalia, a  small  town  just  east  of  Jefferson  City.  Kathy 
attributes  her  love  for  the  outdoors  to  her  rural  roots 
and  is  thrilled  to  share  her  passion  with  visitors  to  the 
iture  center. 


nat 


Rod  Doolen  is  a  science  teacher  at  Clearwater  High 
School  in  Piedmont.  He  likes  hunting,  fishing,  hiking, 
canoeing  and  just  being  outdoors.  He  has  worked  in 
the  West  for  the  U.S.  Forest  Service,  fighting  wildfires. 
He  describes  himself  as  a  strong  proponent  of  natural 
resource  stewardship. 


Mark  Goodwin  teaches  biology  at  Jackson  Senior 
High  School.  He  spends  much  of  his  free  time  training 
hunting  dogs.  Mark  said  he  plansto  open  a  small  ken- 
nel and  turn  his  interest  in  dogs  into  a  second  career 
after  he  retires  from  the  school  system. 


4& 

«l3 

Chris  Riggert  is  a  fisheries  biologist  with  the  Con- 
servator! Department's  Stream  Unit.  He  is  responsible 
for  administering  the  Stash  YourTrash  program.  He  is 
an  avid  angler  and  enjoys  spending  quiet  evenings  on 
a  small  pond  in  his  belly  boat.  He  lives  in  Boonville 
with  his  wife, J  eanine,  and  two  dogs. 


Twenty-five  year  Conservation  Department  employee 
Ginny  Wallace  coordinates  the  No  MOre  Trash! 
program  in  partnership  with  the  Department  of 
Transportation,  and  the  Missouri  Master  Naturalist 
volunteer  program.  Ginny  and  her  husband,  Mervin, 
live  on  a  47-acre  farm  in  Gole  Gounty,  where  they 
raised  two  sons,  Marcus  and  Derek. 


May  2004  33 


Floating 

Many  M  issourians  love  to  spend  summer  days  relaxing  in  a  canoe,  watching  the  turtles  and  kingfishers  along  the  river  and 
letting  the  current  carry  them  downstream.—  Cliff  White